Sergio is back, without the boyish charm

AUGUSTA, Ga. - Sergio Garcia needs to channel his inner teenager, the one who famously skipped down the fairway at Medinah all those years ago, in order to win the Masters.

Sadly, he wonít let himself get that geeked up over a golf tournament anymore.

At 33, Garcia is so far removed from that joyous place of unbridled enthusiasm and never-ending smiles that he seems a different person.

Heís older and wiser and more serious and even a bit defensive when talking about Augusta National. He and Augusta arenít exactly BFFs. Augusta hasnít treated him well, and he has no problem admitting this isnít his favorite place.

Last year, he admitted he couldnít win here.

And thereís that dubious distinction heís still never won a major. Anywhere.

Garcia is a surprise as the Masters co-leader after firing an impressive first-round 6-under 66 Ė tied for his career best at Augusta - on Thursday. He had six birdies and no bogeys for the first time in a round here in 11 years.

He was asked about his lower expectations and responded: ``Lower expectation, maybe thatís what you say. Every time I tee off in a tournament, my goal is to play the best I can and have a chance at winning. It doesnít change this week.íí

The last time Garcia shot 66 was in the final round in 2004, but he wasnít in contention then.

Heís in contention now and will be battling the demons that have plagued him in his 15 appearances at Augusta. Garcia has just two top-10 finishes (fourth place in 2004 was his best) and has missed the cut four times.

Would the old Garcia, who finished second to Tiger Woods at the PGA Championship in 1999, please stand up?

``Iím not saying I wasnít realistic when I was 19,íí Garcia said. ``But obviously as you get older, you mature a little bit more. Iím sure it happened to you, too.íí

After Garcia was done with his news conference, he ran into Dustin Johnson and the two friends shared a laugh. It was like looking in a mirror, except for the height differential.

Both are sponsored by TaylorMade, and both were wearing the same green shirts and black pants. Their outfits are pre-scripted by the company. If we could pre-script Garciaís gameplan for the next three rounds, they would include hopping and air kicks, no matter the results.

Johnson remembers those circumstances.

``One of the shots I remember is maybe the PGA where he hit from behind the tree,íí Johnson said. ``Thatís one that sticks out in my head.íí

Garcia pulled off a great shot at Medinah, and couldnít hide his pleasure in doing so. Thatís everyoneís early memory of Garcia, and then there are his surly comments and attitude over the year that got worse when he became known as the best player to never win a major.

Last year, he shockingly told Spanish reporters at the Masters: ``Iím not good enough Ö I donít have the thing I need to have. In 13 years, Iíve come to the conclusion that I need to play for second or third place.íí

Those words haunt him now, especially as his his name is perched atop the leaderboard.

``Those were my words,íí Garcia said. ``But no, I think that at the end of the day, we go through those moments, tough moments and frustrated moments and I know that was one of them.

``I obviously didnít say it the right way because it was one of those frustrating moments.íí

He said it in his native tongue. It was honest. Thatís how he felt. Heíd been beaten up here so many times, itís just tough that he said it out loud for the world to hear. Now, in his own words, heís played some of his best golf at Augusta and must convince himself he has the stuff to play three more rounds in similar fashion.

``What Iím going to try to take to the pillow (at night) is the first 10 holes,íí Garcia said. ``I think itís, without a doubt, the best 10 holes Iíve played at the Masters. Even though scoring-wise maybe it wasnít, but the way I hit the ball and amount of birdie chances I gave myself, it meant a lot.íí

And now, he must eat those words and pretend he had his fingers crossed behind his back.

He has to remember he can play for first. The kid in him would never doubt that.

We still remember that lovable Garcia, but he has long forgotten.

Maybe when heís thinking about those 10 holes in his dreams, heíll remember that joy he had for the game.